New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duessppurp’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Duessppurp’ characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESSPPURP’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duessppurp’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new uniform Impatiens plants with numerous attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary selection of Impatiens×hybrida identified as code number NN-0032-X0000, not patented. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. on Nov. 24, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. since Jan. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duessppurp’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duessppurp’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Purple-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selection have magenta-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens×hybrida ‘Misato FG3’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,662. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Misato FG3’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of         ‘Misato FG3’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Misato FG3’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Misato FG3’ have magenta-colored         flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens×hybrida ‘SAKIMP022’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,500. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants of the new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘SAKIMP022’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of         ‘SAKIMP022’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘SAKIMP022’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘SAKIMP022’ have cherry red-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duessppurp’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duessppurp’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and spring in one-gallon containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 2,500 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were 20 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens×hybrida ‘Duessppurp’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary     selection of Impatiens×hybrida identified as code number     NN-0032-X0000, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about six             to seven primary branches each with about four to six             lateral branches developing per plant; vigorous growth             habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 37 cm to 39 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 62 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—Variable, longest branches are about 34 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 9 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—About 20° to 45° from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 187B; at internodes, close to             187A.         -   Color, developed.—Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 10.5 cm.         -   Width.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Slightly more grey than             147A. Fully opened leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             venation, close to 187C. Fully opened leaves, lower surface:             Close to 147B; venation, close to 187C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 185A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded triangular             and flat axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically             about 160 flowers developing per plant during the flowering             season; flowers positioned just above and beyond the foliar             plane, flowers typically face mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about two to three             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—In the garden, flowering from             spring until fall in temperate regions; early flowering             habit, plants typically begin flowering about nine weeks             after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.             Shape: Ovoid, pointed. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy. Color: Close to 71A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.5 cm by 5.2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.8 cm; including sepal spur, about 3.7             cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl; one upper banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 2.5 cm. Width,             banner petal: About 3 cm. Length, lateral petals: About             2.5 cm. Width, lateral petals: About 2 cm. Length, lower             petals: About 3.4 cm. Width, lower petals: About 2.8 cm.             Shape: Cordate. Apex: Cordate; emarginate. Base: Attenuate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Brighter than 71A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 72A. Fully opened, upper surface: Brighter             than 71A; towards the base, close to N77A; at the base,             close to 60A; venation, close to 71A; color does not change             with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 72A;             venation, close to 60A; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About 1.1 cm.             Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acuminate. Base:             Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             developing, upper surface: Close to 185D. When developing,             lower surface: Close to 185A, 185B and 185C. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 71A to 71B. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 61A to 61B. Spur length: About 5.7 cm.             Spur diameter: At the flower, about 2 mm. Spur texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Spur color:             Close to 59A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 45° to 55° from stem axis. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 59A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 1.5 mm.             Filament color: Close to 61A. Anther size: About 4 mm by             5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 174C.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158B.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About             6 mm. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 182B. Style color: Close to 59A.             Ovary color: Close to 146B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duessppurp’ as illustrated and described. 